Gethin Jenkins during training with the Wales squad ahead of the South Africa game (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Share

Get rugby updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Gethin Jenkins insists he doesn’t know why Wales coach Warren Gatland is said to be under pressure.

That word pressure has dominated the fall-out from the 34-16 defeat to New Zealand and the build-up to Saturday’s autumn finale against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium.

After that All Blacks game, Gatland was asked by the BBC’s Sonja McLaughlan whether he felt under pressure given Wales’ record of 22 straight defeats against the southern hemisphere heavyweights – a question which the WRU communications department were unhappy with.

And the likes of former All Blacks coach John Mitchell and ex-Ireland hooker Shane Byrne have waded in with critical comments about Gatland’s record, turning up the heat.

But Lions prop Jenkins, one of Gatland’s stalwarts during his reign, has issued a staunch defence of the Kiwi coach, stressing the strides Wales have made under him.

“He’s been here for six or seven years and we’ve changed massively,” said the Blues loose-head.

“We’ve got a settled game plan in terms of the way we play. I don’t really see where those questions are coming from. The whole coaching team are working hard to prepare us for what we do on the Saturday and we just need to get over that line.

“We don’t go out there to lose, we go out there to win these big games.

“It’s hard to put a finger on why we’re not getting over that line, but we’re working as hard as we can do to alter things and get our decision making right, so we win those games.

“I thought the boys played superbly last Saturday and put their bodies on the line, but the All Blacks are a ruthless team and they showed that in the last 10 minutes.

“On Monday and Tuesday you look at where you’ve gone wrong, but then you try and put it to bed and get yourself up for the next game. That’s all you look at then.

“For us, it’s about turning up on Saturday and finishing on a high before the Six Nations.

“Southern hemisphere or northern hemisphere doesn’t make much difference. We just want to win every game. We don’t think just because it’s a southern hemisphere team that we’ve got to win.”

Jenkins sat out the All Blacks game with a hamstring strain, but is now back to face the ‘Boks, taking over from Bath’s Paul James, who is unavailable with the game taking place outside of the IRB window.

New Zealand's Beauden Barrett runs in to score his side's fifth try against Wales

“We made the decision early in the week that I wouldn’t be right for New Zealand,” said the 34-year-old.

“I was disappointed to miss out, but this week was my big target and I’m looking forward to getting back out.

“South Africa have changed their game plan over the last couple of years, but have kept some of their strengths. The maul is still strong and the scrum is still a focus for them. They’re quite direct. You know what to expect and we know it’s going to be a physical battle.”

Wales’ last outing against the Springboks – in Nelspruit this summer – was one of a series of painful near things against the southern hemisphere big three, with Wales having led 30-17 going into the last 10 minutes only to lose 31-30.

“That was up there with the rest of them. It’s the same every time you lose,” said Jenkins.

“The way we lost it was probably the disappointing thing because we had control of the game and, with eight minutes left, we were more than two scores up.

“We let them get back into touching distance to score that last try to win. It probably hurts a lot more because of that. We were in the driving seat.”

In the wake of another couple of hard-to-take defeats this autumn, Jenkins has looked to lift spirits by taking on the role of quiz master within the camp.

“We had a bit of a thing last Monday,” he said. “We’re trying to do a bit more because we’re going to be away a lot with the World Cup.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to do a bit more as a team. I think the boys enjoyed it. Bradley (Davies) fixed the teams I think!”

It’s the latest team-bonding role for the 109-cap Jenkins, who is music master as well as quiz master.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a DJ, but I pick some of the music on the bus,” he said.

“There are a couple of us now, Rhys Webb and Liam Williams have a go. They are all taking the songs off me!”